Cigarette and match package



Sept. 19, 1933. A. P. BEEBE CIGARETTE AND MATCH PACKAGE Filed July 50, 1932 I ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCIaims.

This invention relates to cigarette packages and more especially to composite packages for cigarettes and means for igniting the cigarettes.

The usual practice in packaging cigarettes is to wrap a substantially rectangularly arranged group of cigarettes in a plurality of wrappers with the wrapper ends folded over the ends of the group of cigarettes and then sealed in sucli folded position to provide a convenient package. Various attempts have heretofore been made to incorporate matches in packages of this type without successfully producing a composite package which has attained extensive commercial recognition. The main factors which have frustrated "such efforts have been: added .bulk of the package; inaccessibility of. the matches; excessive cost of producing the package; tainting of the cigarettes by the matches; unattractive appearance of the packages; and loose ends and flaps projecting from the package. The present invention is directed to obviating these disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a neat, compact package for cigarettes and matches. 25

cigarette package so as to obviate fire hazard.

Another object resides in providing for easy removal of individual matches.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the genus of the invention, typical concrete embodiments thereof are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a cigarette and match package having parts broken-away to illustrate the construction and the arrangement of articles enclosed therein;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken on line 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. land depicting a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, a group of cigarettes 10 is wrapped by the'usual inner wrapper 12 of paper or paper partly or wholly covered with tin foil, or of other desired material, with the ends 16 of the wrapper folded and sealed. A transparent wrapper 20' may be added at this time folded and sealed at each end as in the case of the previously named wrapper. The sealing of the wrapper. 20 is more complete thanin the case of the first-named wrapper so as to preclude admission of moisture or drying and loss of quality of the cigarettes.

Another object is to arrange matches in a thumb nail between the matches and sliding them A back piece 22 ofsuitable size is next placed against the back of the package. An outer wrapper 24 is disposedabout the package with the lower end thereof folded and sealed. Wrapper 24 preferably extends to, a level just below the top 50 of the package. A slot 26 is provided in the back of the wrapper 24 and over thebacking piece 22, the slot extending from the top margin of wrapper 24 to a level slightly above the bottom; of the package. The wrapper 24 may be adhered to the inner wrapper 12 at the lower folded end thereof or may, if desired, be retained on the package by the usual internal revenue stamp 28 which is normally sealed across the upper end of the package. The slot 26 extends longitudinally of the package and uncovers :tpproximately=onethird of the back face of the outer wrapper 24 at the central portion thereof. The removal of a portion of the back wall of the outer wrapper 24 to providethe slot 26 leaves a pair of flaps 30 and 32 at each side of the slot and a portion 33 closing the lower end of slot 26.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a row of matches 34, preferably of a number equivalent to the number of cigarettes in the package, is interposed between 'the flaps 30 and 32 and the backing piece 22.- The matches are arranged transversely of the back face of the package and are adhered to the under face of the margins of the flaps 30 and 32 which border slot 26 by suitable adhesive as indicated at 36. Beyond the ends of the matches the outer wrapper 24 is adhered to the backing piece 22 as indicated at 38. The adhesive 38 prevents the upper portion of the outer wrapper 24 from spreading as the matches are removed from the package. The heads 40 of 'matches 34 are arranged in alternately reversed position, both to separate the matches so that they may be removed by inserting the to the top of the package, and also to prevent ignition of all of the matches should one match head become accidentally ignited while in assembled position on the package. In arranging the matches in the package, it is preferred to dispose the heads 40 directly in rear of the line of contact of the end cigarettes of the adjacent row with the next adjacent cigarettes of that row. 7% This arrangement permits the heads of the matches to embed themselves in the package with the heads partially occupying the space between the two end cigarettes at each side of the package. The matches 34 are preferably of the safety type and a suitable striking pad 42 is arranged preferably at a side edge or on the bottom of the package for use in igniting the matches. Advertising matter may be placed on the stem of the matches if desired.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, wherein another embodiment of the invention is disclosed, a package of cigarettes and matches of essentially the same construction as shown in Fig. l, is illustrated. In this embodiment however the backing strip 22 may be omitted and the matches 44 adhered to the wrapper next adjacent to the outer wrapper 24. In this embodiment the matches 44 may be arranged in the package in the same manner as that disclosed in the previous embodiment, or the adjacent matches 44 may be of different lengths with their heads disposed in staggered relation at the same side of the package. The margins of the flaps 30 and 32 adjacent the slot 26, are attached to the matches 34 by suitable adhesive as indicated at 46. The portions of the flaps 30 and 32 beyond the ends of the matches are adhered to the wrapper next adjacent the outer wrapper 24 by adhesive, as indicated at 48. It will be noted that in this embodiment the heads of the matches space the stems so as to permit easy removal of the matches from the package. Alternate heads of matches 44 are arranged in alignment and directly in rear of the lines of contact between the first and second and the second and third cigarettes of the adjacent row in the package, so that the match heads occupy at least a part of the space between the cigarettes, thus providing a more compact package. It is noted that in both embodiments the matches are disposed outside the transparent moisture-proof wrapper or the backing piece and moisture-proof wrapper so that the cigarettes cannot become tainted by the matches.

As many changes could be made in the above description or shown in the accompanying draw- 45 ing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigarette package, an inner Wrapper for enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, an outer wrapper surrounding the inner wrapper. and provided with a slot extending to an edge of a side of the package, a row of matches interposed between said wrappers with intermediate portions thereof accessible through said slot, and means for securing the margins of the outer wrapper adjacent said slot to the matches.

2. In a cigarette package, an inner wrapper for enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, an outer wrapper surrounding said inner wrapper and provided with a slot extending longitudinally of a side of the package, said slot being open at an end of the package, a row of matches arranged with the heads of adjacent matches in alternately reverse position and interposed between said wrappers, intermediate portions of said matches being accessible through said slot, and means for securing the margins of the outer wrapper adjacent said slot to the matches.

3. In a cigarette package, an inner wrapper for enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, a transparent and moisture proof wrapper for enclosing said first named wrapper, an outer wrapper surrounding said inner wrapper and provided with a slot at a side of the package, a row of matches interposed between said outer and. said transparent wrappers with intermediate portions thereof accessible through said slot and means for securing the margins of said outer wrapper adjacent said slot to said matches adjacent the ends of the latter.

4. In a cigarette package, an inner wrapper for enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, an outer wrapper surrounding said inner wrapper and provided with a slot at a side of the package, a backing piece interposed between said wrappers adjacent said slot, a row of matches interposed between said backing piece and said outer wrapper with intermediate portions thereof accessible through said slot, and means for securing the margins of the outer wrapper adjacent said slot to the matches.

5. In a cigarette package, an inner wrapper for enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, an outer wrapper surrounding said inner wrapper and provided with a slot extending longitudinally of a side of the package, a backing piece interposed between said wrappers adjacent said slot, a row of matches interposed between said backing sheet and said outer wrapper with intermediate portions thereof accessible through said slot, means for securing the margins of the outer wrapper adjacent said slot to the matches and means for securing the portions of the outer wrapper beyond the ends of the matches to said backing piece.

6. In a cigarette package, an inner wrapper for enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, an outer wrapper surrounding said inner wrapper and provided with a slot extending longitudinally of a side of the package, a row of matches interposed between said wrappers with intermediate portions thereof accessible through said slot, means for securing the margins of the outer wrapper adjacent said slot to the matches, and means for securing the portions of the outer wrapper beyond the ends of the matches in fixed position relative to said inner wrapper.

'7. In a cigarette package, an inner wrapper for enclosing a. plurality of cigarettes, a transparent and moisture-proof wrapper for enclosing said 1 first named wrapper, an outer wrapper surrounding said inner and said transparent wrappers and provided with a slot extending longitudinally of a side of the package, a row of matches interposed between said outer and said transpar- 1 ent wrappers with intermediate portions thereof accessible through said slot, means for securing the margins of said outer wrapper adjacent the slot to said matches at points adjacent the ends of the latter, and means for securing the 1 portions of the outer wrapper beyond the ends of the matches to said transparent wrapper.

8. In a cigarette package, an inner wrapper for enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, a transparent and moisture proof wrapper for enclosing said first named wrapper, an outer wrapper surrounding said inner and said transparent wrappers and provided with a slot extending longitudinally of a side of the package, a backing piece interposed between said outer and said transparent wrappers, adjacent said slot, a row of matches interposed between said backing piece and said outer wrapper with intermediate portions thereof accessible through said slot, means for securing the margins of the outer wrapper adjacent said slot to the matches, and means for securing the portions of the outer wrapper beyond the ends of the matches to the backing piece.

ALAN P. BEEBE. 1 

